Automatic water-heater.



B. E. MEACHAM.

AUTOMATIC WATER HEATER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 4, 1?:12.

Patented July 14, 1914.

114000000 /%K I 0 I I I 6mm,

B. E. MEACHAM AUTOMATIC WATER. HEATER.

APPLICATION FILED APE/1, 1912.

1,103,800, Patented July 14, 191i 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

$14 under i/hwooao B. E. MBACHAM.

AUTOMATIC WATER HEATER.

APPLICATION FILED APB-4,1912.

Patented July 1471914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BENQ'AMIN E. MEACHAM, OF LORAIN, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN STOVE COMPANY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

AUTOMATIC WATER-HEATER.

Specification of Letters latent.

Patented July 14, 1914.

Application filed April}, 1912. Serial No. 688,501.

To all whom it may concern Be 'itknown that I, BENJAMIN E. MEACHAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lorain, in the county of Lorain and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Water-Heaters, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

My invention relates to improvements in automatic water heaters.

The object of my invention is to provide a heater of this character in which the flow of water through the heater is retarded until it has reached a certain temperature, whereby there is a saving in fuel and also preventing a large quantity of partially heated water from passing from the heater and at the same time providing a heater in which the water is heated much more quickly.

Another object of my invention is to provide a heater of this character in which the water discharge pipe forms the means by which the flow of water in controlled and also forming the means for controlling the gas supply to the burner.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of this character in which there is a. circulation of water through the coils after the wateris cut off, should the gas valve become stuck and the burner remain lighted, whereby the cells would not be as readily burned out or injured by the intense heat from the burner.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a simple, cheap and very effective means for accomplishing! the above results having certain details of structure hereinafter fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation. of a water heater showing my attachment applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the water heater showing the attachment in full line and locking in a direction at right angles to Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on the line 2--Q Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the upper end of the attachment as shown in Fig. 3. only taken at right angles to Fig. 3. Fig. is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 5-5, Fig. 2.

ln, water heaters of this character heretoforc used, the gas supply to the main burner is controlled by the opening and such heaters before water which is heated to the desired temperature passes therefrom, a large quantity of partially heated water passes from the heater which is not only a waste of water, but consumes considerably more fuel before water of the desired temperature is obtained; and at. the same time taking a much longer time to get the water up to the desired temperature.

In my improved heater the passage of the water through the heater is retarded until it has reached the desired temperature, whereby a great saving in water, fuel and time is the result.

Referring now to the drawings, 1 repre sents the body of my improved heater which, as shown, is the double wall construction and which needs no further description. Within said body portion of the heater is the coil 2 through which the cold water passes, and is heated in the well-known mannor by burners 3 at the lower end. 'ithin the body portion adjacent the burners is a pilot-light which is at all times burning and whereby the main burners are ignited when the gas is turned on thereto, as will be hereinafter more fully described.

The main water supply pipe 4 leads from any water supply source and is connected to a cylinder 5, in which is located the piston (l, normally held to the left by means of a spring 7, mounted upon the piston-rod 8, carried by the piston. The said piston-rod extends out through a stufiing box 9 and is adapted to operate the gas supply valve, as will be hereinafter more fully described.

The cylinder 5 in one side is provided with an opening 10, which communicates with a pipe 11, which leads upwardly and is connected to the upper end of the coil 2, and whereby the coil is fed with water at its upper end.

The water enters the coil at the upper end and passes downward therethrough and the right bi or i set; in full operation. The pilot the borne-r is ffitl, by a. pipe 29', eonneeted to he valve casing 27, the upper valve whereby it is A supplied with wherebysaiil plate 0.1 supported in the posh .v

Surrounding the it is free to move plate 18 which pi extending yoke 19 N 1.5, and whereby till? are free to more ver the yoke. The yell: two sections 2%} and 21, whereby 2 moved when cured to bolts wardly entl are o my the .houeing 15 is a rod 43, extends LlOWIiYv'ftfillY and loosely though the connection 13 and en- 'llz'tl' port in; ll of the lever l5 pivoted lower end of the lever has portion 27 through which passes ew l5 which eu agee the lever 36 ;;-i'\ t 3G. The set-screw 4 8 is so lllili when the Water in the heater w lever 2; holds the valve stem 34L and the hive is held open, so

{1} i :a to the burner. mg i i exile rged set as shown. Tllfit etc 5 ith an opening 430 closed 18 and the bolt =5. l valve 1;: normally u: l the valve is so Hilts not tightly lit the V V. t 33.322156 a Pumll leakage of lll'Llllilfl 5U that as soon as the 5 zeroed on. there is a slight circulal'ilhW ll the heater.

v'irion plate '19 is are vmg h; a horizontal posimulwlititr tire inlet. and outlet of the ho sing.

,llhillillijil on the lower face of V 5-2, which has its the valve 51, and the V zgiemg tlre le er normally holds The lever intermediate its h on upwardly extendivhirh extends through the .l lk'ulitl in the upper face of the at 5e is e. u! \y'hi-"l is directly the pin 55 and eirages the some.

lihgg @he lever .57 is a vertically roll .15, ohieh extend: through the 5% 5 51! carried by the upper end of the looming. Flo p aid IOtl flflll'tll into i which rotatably mounted in l by the upper end of net tT-( is free to rotate in .nitlerl with a peripheral nfo -.1ll1ll extemla n set-screw by lhe yoke, whereby the nut is lltcltl against downward otion of the not, as will were the rod Cm up or down of the lever 57, whereby moot of the housing 14') will lrc 'il itlltl allow a lull flow of heeten The tuhe 14 is made l re and is very expansible, heated water in the tube will tube (musing it to move upg with it the housing 15, t being held. by the nut in the for-13o the lever :37 which engages to more the lever 54 and unseat which allows a full flow of Water and :29 the plat whereby or from the ijfillilfi which will scribed.

The main burner is means of a pipe :26, w connected to the gas r valve casing is of a iloe le w purpose later described piece having the two in, The upper of connected thereto communicates These two velar communicatio passage 31, we; 7 h. plug 32, es clearly drawing. The opp. with e Espring w. i the valve closed. v2 34 extending outwit 2V box and said val e lever 36 which :3 more; to hold the val e 2* 1 Fig. 3, of the draw is allowed to lie-v by the turnizw The valve or. 17 by means of SllOVvll in Fig. 8 m valve ex valve 28 anal spring 30. The with caps 40 and into which r" access may valve has: through the alinement Nah and Wherebvthe F.

3 be hereiria ll described, llhSkiillz': the i 28 being iri rmelly ii lowed t0 pase: to the mm HIS a transverse division,

it will be seen that the pipe leading from.

the lower end of the coil for conveying the heated water from the heater is employed, as the thermostatic means for controlling the flow of water from the heater, until it has reached a certain temperature and also serves as means for cutting off the supply of gas from the burner, so that, should the water be heated beyond a certain temperature, the gas to the main burner will be cut off, as heretofore described.

As heretofore stated, the adjustment of .the nut 60 determines the amount of movement of the housin 15 necessary to unseat the valve 51 and w ereby the valve can be opened when the water reaches any desired or predetermined temperature.

The turning plug 32 is operated by a lever 65 and when turned so that its ports are transverse of the valve casing the'turning on of the water will not light the-burner as the gas cannot get from the valve 28 to the valve The casing 65 carried by the lower end of the pipe 64 has a vertically disposed valve 66, which is held unseated by the spring 67, and whereby thecommunication between the pipe 64: and the casing 65 is opened. The casing 65 is in communication with the pipes 68 and 69 leading from the coils and which is designed to allow of the circulation of the water through the coil after the water is cut off should the burner for any reason not be extinguished. The valve 66 is normally held open and is closed by the water pressure in the pipe 64 against the valve and which overcomes the tension of the spring 67.

The valve stem 68 of the valve 66 extends downwardly into a cylindrical portion 69 in the casing 65 and is provided with a series of vertically extending grooves 70 in its outer periphery. Loosely fitting on the said stem is a piston 70 which tightly [it in the cylindrical portion 69 of the casing and is normally held in its downward position by the spring 67 above. The piston has its downward movement on the valve stem limited by the enlarged portion 71 of the stem. The pipes 68 and Gil have no communication between each other through the housing except through the cylindrical porua apu pfo pins 0 puo .iexio eq nor;

' a bracket 26 .continue to burn, the heated water would pass through the pipe 64: into the passage 69 of the other coil and whereby there is a continued circulation of water through the coils as long as the burner is burning. This construction, as heretofore stated, prevents the coils from becoming injured by the excessive heat which necessarily arises when the water" is cut ofi and the burner remains in operation.

Secured to the upper end of the heater 1 is which extends outwardly and has its end bifurcated and secured to the plate 18 by means of nuts 24, and whereby the plate 18 is rigidly supported by the body 1 of the heater.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with a water heater, a burner, a gas supply for the burner, a water discharge for the heater, thermostatic means for controlling the gas supply and water discharge, and automatic means for causing a circulation of the Water in the heater after the water discharge is closed.

2. The combination with a water heater, 100 a burner, a gas supply for the burner, a water discharge for the heater, thermostatic means for controlling the gas supply, a water discharge controlled by the thermostatic means, and automatic means for caus- 195 4 ing a circulation of the water in the heater after the water discharge is closed.

3. The combination with a water heater,

a water supply for the heater, 2. water discharge pipe for the heater, a valve in said pipe for checking the flow of water therethrough, and means operated by the expansion of said pipe for opening the valve therein and allowing a full flow of water theret-hrough, and means operated by the expansion of said pipe for allowing the gas valve to close when the water in the heater has reached a predetermined temperature.

The combination with an automatic water heater, a water supply therefor, a water discharge pipe for said heater, a valve in said pipe and normally checking the flow of water from the heater, a stem carried by a stationary part of the heater and adapted to open the valve when the pipe moves outwardly by the expansion thereof and means operated by the continued expansion of the pipe to allow the gas valve to close when the water in the heater has reached a predetermined temperature.

automatic therefor, a

partition-and engaging the pin, a vertically adjustable stem-supported by thoyokc and supply valve ii the extending into the receptacle and straddling the second lever whereby the expansion of the discharge pipe moves the receptacle and the stem operates the levers for unseating the valve and allowing a full flow of water through the rec ptsele whenl the, water has exceeded its pi ==incdtempsraturep v 6. The ccrn ination an automatic Water hes tcr, a. Water s therefor, a, gas i or" the heater, a water discharge pipe. flffll 52nd heatsr a 'vafl in said pipe and normally checking the flow of Water from the heater, means ope: ted by the expansi or? the pipeffor opening'the valve and all i a. full flow of water through the heat it, mosnsoperstted by the continued expansion of the pipe to'ollo'w the gas valve to close and automatic -1neans for connecting the coils to allow a circulation of water through the heater Sifter the Water discharge closed= i "Z. The combination with sheater, a.

burner, a gas supply for the humor, :1 double velvecasing for controlling the gas supply;

a watersupply and discharge pipes fol-the V heater, a piston in the water supply and hat ing a, piston rod extending therefrom a valve in the valve casing and normally held closed andhaving stein in alinenicnt with the piston rod, a second valve normally-held open means opera-ted by the expansion of the discharge'pipe for allowing the second valve to close; and means in the discharge pipe for checking the flow of water therethrough and controlled by the expansion of said discharge pipe.

8. The 'oombina-tion with a Water heater, a burner, a gas" supply for the burner, Wat/er supply and discharge pipes for said heater,

a, vclve'oontrolling the gas supply and normally held open, s stern carried by the valve and extending outwardly,'a lever pivoted at the upper end and engaging the valve stem, ,a second lever pivoted above the first lever and having a} set screw at its lower end ongaging the first lever below its pivot, a, rod

carried by the discharge pipe and. engaging the upper lever aiid holding the levers in the position shown, whereby the expansion of the pipe "draws the rod upward and re-' lieves the lever and'allows the gas valve to close, substantially as shown nnd. described. In testimony whereof I hereunto'afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

I BENJAMIN E. MEAGHAM.

, .VIit-hcsses: I I

T. GLITscH, H.BARRON. 

